BASTA… WE OPPOSE!
PERIOD!
By Anton Antonio
August 2, 2015
The death of 9 mines workers in Antique last month brought
the operations of the Semirara Mining and Power Corporation into the public eye…
especially environmentalist groups opposed to the use of coal as an energy
source. Here is a researched material
and update on this controversy:
“CHURCH GROUPS SEEK SEMIRARA COAL MINES’ CLOSURE
By Keith Richard D. Mariano – GMA News
August 2, 2015 (Sunday)
Catholic Church organizations on Saturday called for the
permanent closure of Semirara Mining and Power Corporation’s Antique coal mines
on environmental concerns. In a joint
statement, the Antique Diocesan Social Action Center and Caritas Philippines
pushed for a mining ban in Antique following a July landslide in which nine
workers at the company’s Panian open pit mine were killed. The groups cited studies showing how
Semirara’s coal mining activities supposedly destroyed 83.92 hectares of
mangrove areas and over 2 kilometers of coral reefs from 2009 to 2014. The mining operations also supposedly
introduced toxic materials to surrounding waters and destroyed the fishing
ground shared by Antique, Romblon, Mindoro and Palawan. The Church groups also opposed the extension
of Semirara’s operating contract to 2027 and the expansion of its coverage to
12,700 hectares from 5,500 hectares over concerns that coal mining operations
help accelerate global warming. “We
demand that the government recognize the direct contribution of coal mining and
coal powered operations to global warming.
It is the entire country that stands at a loss for every environmental
disaster that hits it,” the statement read.
Semirara, the biggest coal miner in the Philippines accounts for 92
percent of the country’s total coal production.
Its truck and shovel operations could produce 8 million metric tons of
coal annually. “The government has to
immediately shift to less evil sources of power even as it finds better, more
environmentally sound, socially just and sustainable sources of energy,” the
group, however, insisted. Pope Francis
recently issued an encyclical calling climate change “a global problem with
grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the
distribution of goods.” This is the
reason why the Semirara disaster could not be taken out of the context of
global plundering of the earth’s resources.
These coal plants are environmental crimes done in broad daylight.” The
groups said.” --- DVM, GMA News
I agree on the following points: (1) That coal, as an energy
source, is not sustainable: (2) That government must recognize the direct
contribution of coal mining and coal powered operations to global warming; and,
(3) That government has to immediately shift to less evil sources of power that
are better, more environmentally sound, socially just and sustainable sources
of energy. I cannot argue with
this. However, on the issue of closing the
Semirara operations without the provision of “safety nets”, I do not quite
agree.
We should consider that our mining industry is part of our
national economic development program and a considerable amount man hours in
research has been used in putting such a plan together. We also should realize that the Semirara
mining operations is a business venture and, as such, is fuelled by financial
investments both domestic and international.
It will be an economic policy direction tragedy if this mining operation
is shut down without instituting some kind of safety net such as the following:
(a) Making sure that the livelihood opportunities of local communities
continues; and, (b) Investors are allowed to recover their investments… or this
will definitely send wrong signals to investors and would-be investors in the
mining industry.
The biggest misgiving that pro-environmental advocates and
activists commit is being inflexible and having the “basta” mentality (meaning:
saying “basta” we oppose without giving any educated basis for their
opposition). Laying the basis for
opposing something must also be accompanied by suggestions on how to manage a
particular opposition. Perhaps, as an
example, the following methodology should be suggested too: (1) Shut down the
mining operation of Semirara alright; (2) Get Semirara to pay for whatever
environmental damage it caused; and, (3) For government to allow Semirara some degree
of tax credits and/or other incentives which will encourage the company to
develop other environmentally sound projects related to energy sourcing
initiatives. This will guarantee
livelihood opportunities and keep investors calm. I believe that suggestions like these will
help in managing conflicts rather than simply saying: “BASTA… WE OPPOSE! PERIOD!”
Just my
little thoughts…
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